Is it normal to think you have cancer

Unexplained symptoms This means a symptom that does not have an obvious cause. Symptoms that are unusual for you This means a change in your body that is not normal for you. Symptoms to watch for If you have any of the symptoms listed here, see your GP. General symptoms Unexplained bleeding. Extreme tiredness. Night sweats. Symptoms that affect how you eat Trouble swallowing. Weight loss.

Indigestion and heartburn. Bladder and bowel symptoms Bloating. Change in bowel habit. Problems peeing. Symptoms that affect your speech or breathing An ongoing cough. Hoarse voice.

Symptoms that affect your skin Changes to a mole. A sore that does not heal. Are you worried about cancer? People worry about cancer for many different reasons. Perhaps you have a family member or friend who has been Managing the symptoms of cancer.

This booklet is about some of the symptoms you may have if you have cancer. It describes ways to help manage Print page. How we can help. If you need to talk, we'll listen. Share experiences, ask questions and talk to people who understand. Find out about support groups, where to get information and how to get involved with Macmillan where you live.

Get help. Cancer type symptoms Bladder cancer symptoms. Small bowel cancer symptoms. Head and neck cancer symptoms. Mouth cancer symptoms. Laryngeal cancer. Bowel cancer symptoms. Lumps are the most common sign of breast cancer , according to the ACS.

But they're not the only sign. Skin changes on your breasts — including rashes, irritation, dimpling , and scaly, red, or thickened nipples — may also indicate cancer. Bonta said that fever is sometimes a cancer symptom. Most often, it's a sign that a cancer has spread to a different part of the body than where it started, but it can be an early symptom of blood cancers leukemia or lymphoma , according to the ACS.

A temperature of more than Excessive sweating after bedtime can be a sign that something's going on with your health, especially if the weather doesn't warrant it.

Night sweats can indicate lymphoma , a cancer of the immune system. However, it's usually accompanied by other symptoms on this list like fever, fatigue, and weight loss. Plenty of common, noncancerous ailments can cause a cough or hoarseness, from allergies to respiratory infections. But if you lose your voice for longer than three or four weeks, that may be an early symptom of throat cancer, according to Cancer Research UK.

Other signs to watch out for include shortness of breath and difficulty swallowing. But if I have leg pain, I don't remember injuring my leg, it doesn't go away, and three days later I still have to take pain medication, that's a problem. Unexplained pain can be an early warning sign of a variety of cancers depending on where it is in the body, according to ACS.

A persistent, untreatable headache could be a symptom of brain cancer. Back pain may indicate colon cancer, rectum cancer, or ovarian cancer. General pain, without an obvious cause, is sometimes a symptom of bone cancers or testicular cancer. People with anemia don't have enough healthy, normal red blood cells.

Iron-deficiency anemia — the most common type , according to the Mayo Clinic — can occur because of blood loss. Bonta said some iron deficiency anemia is easily explained — it can happen to women with heavy periods , for example.

But unexplained iron deficiency anemia may be a "red flag" for cancer in the colon or rectum, she added. The ACS explains that some colorectal cancers, as they're often called, can bleed into the intestine. Over time that loss of blood may lead to anemia, and the blood may not always be visible or noticeable in the stool.

In fact, the ACS says, a blood test that reveals a low red blood cell count is sometimes the first sign of a colorectal cancer. Blood in the stool is never a good sign, especially if there's not an obvious cause. It signify stomach cancer or colorectal cancers. Other changes in bowel movements, like diarrhea or constipation that last more than a few days, can also be signs of colorectal cancer, the ACS explains.

Bonta said that in men, symptoms like blood in the urine, needing to pee freqeuntly at night, sudden urges to urinate, or a weak stream of urine could indicate prostate cancer. In women, urinary frequency and urgency can be signs of ovarian cancer , according to the ACS. And in all people, certain urinary changes may also be symptoms of kidney and bladder cancers, the ACS says. So it pays to be alert and notice when there's a long-lasting change in your normal bathroom habits. Your care team will talk to you about the benefits and risks of starting or continuing cancer treatment at the moment.

Changes to your body's normal processes or unusual, unexplained symptoms can sometimes be an early sign of cancer. But in many cases your symptoms will not be related to cancer and will be caused by other, non-cancerous health conditions.

Read more about the signs and symptoms of cancer. It's important to get help from a GP if you have symptoms that you're worried about. Find out about using the NHS during coronavirus. Making some simple changes to your lifestyle can significantly reduce your risk of developing cancer. The Macmillan Cancer Support website has more information about how a healthy lifestyle can help reduce your chances of developing cancer.

Surgery is the first treatment to try for most types of cancer, as solid tumours can usually be surgically removed. Accurately diagnosing cancer can take weeks or months. As cancer often develops slowly over several years, waiting for a few weeks will not usually impact on the effectiveness of treatment.

You should not have to wait more than 2 weeks to see a specialist if your GP suspects you have cancer and urgently refers you. In cases where cancer has been confirmed, you should not have to wait more than 31 days from the decision to treat to the start of treatment.